Researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and their collaborators have developed a passive cooling textile named Anti-B that reflects 95.6 percent of solar radiation while releasing thermal heat. Described on September 22 in Microsystems & Nanoengineering, the material combines polyoxymethylene and chitosan in a network of micro- and nanofibers without requiring batteries or external power sources. The fabric aims to lower thermal loads in hot environments by managing both solar reflectance and infrared heat dissipation through the atmospheric window.
King Abdullah University Researchers Develop Solar-Reflecting Anti-B Fabric
Material Composition and Micro- and Nanofiber Structure
The textile construction merges polyoxymethylene (POM) with chitosan, a biopolymer sourced from crustacean exoskeletons. This dual-component matrix handles thermal management by combining high solar reflectivity with infrared transparency. The material is designed to operate within the 8 to 13 micrometers atmospheric window, a specific infrared band where thermal radiation escapes Earth’s atmosphere efficiently. In addition to thermal regulation, the integrated chitosan provides inherent antimicrobial properties. Laboratory tests detailed by the research team demonstrate that Anti-B reduces viable bacteria counts across four distinct strains—Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis—when compared to standard cotton. Furthermore, the material maintains its antibacterial action against E. coli and S. aureus following a 12-hour immersion test in 35 °C water.
Laboratory Thermal Performance and Skin Simulators
To evaluate real-world cooling efficacy, researchers tested the textile under environmental conditions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Using skin simulators calibrated to mimic human metabolic heat production under a solar irradiance exceeding 1,000 watts per square meter, the team measured surface temperatures across various materials. Anti-B maintained surface temperatures between 9.4 °C and 12.3 °C cooler than standard cotton, depending on the operational power setting of the simulator. When compared directly against a commercial protective textile, the new fabric maintained a thermal advantage ranging from 2.6 °C to 6.2 °C. These performance metrics remained consistent during trials featuring simulated sweating, high humidity, and cloud cover.
| Comparative Material | Temperature Advantage of Anti-B |
|---|---|
| Standard Cotton | 9.4 °C to 12.3 °C cooler |
| Commercial Protective Fabric | 2.6 °C to 6.2 °C cooler |
Wearable Prototypes and Future Development
Translating laboratory findings into wearable apparel, researchers modified a commercial cooling shirt by replacing half of the front panel with the Anti-B material. Tested outdoors under an irradiance level of approximately 1,000 watts per square meter, the modified section exhibited a surface temperature up to nearly 4 °C cooler than the surrounding commercial fabric. The underlying skin temperature beneath the Anti-B panel recorded advantages reaching 5.1 °C, with localized peaks exceeding 6 °C. Despite these thermal readings, researchers emphasize that the current data stems from limited trials involving a single human volunteer over short 30-minute exposure windows. Comprehensive testing across diverse human subjects during active physical exercise, daily routines, and repeated laundering cycles remains necessary. While roll-to-roll electrospinning techniques point toward scalable manufacturing volumes, Anti-B remains in the prototype phase as development continues.
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